Mike Hesson named New Zealand coach

Mike Hesson has been confirmed as the new head coach of New Zealand and has been handed a contract until the end of the 2015 World Cup. Hesson, 37, previously spent six years in charge of Otago and took over as Kenya's head coach after last year's World Cup, but quit after 10 months in the role due to concerns over the safety of his family and their quality of life in Kenya.

He beat the Glamorgan mentor and former New South Wales coach Matthew Mott for the role, while the New Zealand and Delhi Daredevils assistant Trent Woodhill also missed out. John Wright will remain in charge until the end of the ongoing tour of the West Indies and Hesson's first tour with the squad will be the upcoming trip to India, which begins with a Test in Hyderabad on August 23.

He will become New Zealand's fifth coach in less than four years. John Bracewell stood down in December 2008 and his successor Andy Moles lasted barely a year. Mark Greatbatch then took over in January 2010 before being replaced by Wright, who spent 16 months in the job before deciding not to renew his contract beyond this year's Caribbean tour.

Wright cited differences with John Buchanan, New Zealand Cricket's director of cricket, as one of the reasons he had decided not to continue in the role. Buchanan said Hesson would bring a fresh approach and new energy to the New Zealand side.

"We were impressed with the way Mike presented himself and he was the stand-out applicant from a strong field of candidates," Buchanan said. "Mike has been a successful first-class coach with the Otago team in recent years and has also had valuable experience working with New Zealand A sides. He also spent some time assisting the Black Caps coaching staff during the 2010 Chappell-Hadlee Series and we're fortunate to have secured his services for the national team.

"Mike's impressive career path also includes the SportNZ Elite Coach Accelerator Programme where he not only had the honour of being selected for the programme, but finished as one of the highly commended participants. He will bring a freshness and new energy to the side and we know he is more than capable of developing and growing the team as we work towards the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015."

Mike Hesson's career at a glance

Started his coaching career at the age of 22

Served as director for Otago Cricket between 1998 and 2004

Appointed as the national coach for Argentina

Became head coach for Otago between 2005-06 and 2010-11 during which they won a one-day and a T20 title

Served as Kenya national coach for 10 months from 2011 to 2012 during which the team managed only one win in nine matches

Contracted as New Zealand's head coach till the end of 2015 World Cup

As a player, Hesson represented Otago's second XI but did not reach first-class level, and focused on coaching from a young age. In 1998 he became the youngest person to attain NZC's level three coaching qualification and from 1998 to 2004 he was the coaching director for Otago Cricket, before he took over as the national coach of Argentina.

From 2005-06 until 2010-11 he was the head coach of Otago and delivered them a one-day title and a Twenty20 title, and during that time he also served as the head coach of New Zealand A. David White, the chief executive of NZC, said Hesson had all the right coaching credentials to be successful in the job.

"He was earmarked early in his career as one of the most talented coaches in New Zealand and it's pleasing to be providing an opportunity to someone who is so deserving," White said. "Mike is highly regarded by his peers, the players he has worked with and the wider family of cricket and I believe he is exactly what the Black Caps need as we look to move our team forward."

Hesson will be taking over a side that sits seventh on the ICC Test rankings, as they stand before the West Indies series, and eighth in the ODI rankings. One of his early challenges will be to guide the side through the ICC World Twenty20; New Zealand are sixth on the ICC T20 rankings but failed to move beyond the group stages in the past two World T20 events.

"Having the opportunity to coach the Black Caps is very special for me," Hesson said. "I am passionate about cricket in New Zealand and doing the best job I can for the players and the fans of cricket in this country. My coaching philosophy is essentially built around setting world-class standards to produce excellence and that's what I intend to do with the Black Caps. It's a big challenge but one I'm ready for and excited about."

Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here

Mike Hesson is likely a caretaker coach while NZC searches for a better option. The selectors need to help the guy out and pick the best players - get Ryder back in the side, get everyone fit. In a NZ cricket context, having players like BJ Watling, Guptill, Ryder, Taylor, Williamson, Franklin, McCullum, Vettori, Bracewell, Wagner, Martin, Nethula, Southee... thats a decent squad to develop and build on.

POSTED BY
on | July 20, 2012, 22:43 GMT

I'm glad Bangladesh have a better and more experienced coach lol New Zealand :)

POSTED BY
shooting
on | July 20, 2012, 22:32 GMT

Hopefully this guy does alright. New Zealand are probably the hardest team to coach because we all know the talent is there, we are just in need of someone to know how to teach them application. First thing I'd be getting throughtheir heads is endurance, even if that means running in the outback of Australia for 8hours straight. At the end of the day, we can only expect average coaches for average teams. Buchanan should be shown the doorway that's for sure.

POSTED BY
on | July 20, 2012, 16:39 GMT

he has not played any cricket.still coachin international side ? how

POSTED BY
Sree_007
on | July 20, 2012, 16:35 GMT

Hi, My Name is Thota Sreenivas from Kenya and i am also involved with Kenyan Cricket and i worked with him. i really enjoyed working with him though its very short time, i can surely tell he is very talented and impressive coach. Hope he will prove that with New Zealand team. All the best to him.

POSTED BY
on | July 20, 2012, 15:35 GMT

While Buchanan is still there, NZ won't improve because he's a crazy guy with his own stupid ideas. NZC should have removed him. They let go of one of the best coaches in John Wright for some Aussie madman. Anyway good luck to this guy Michael Hesson.

POSTED BY
512fm
on | July 20, 2012, 14:12 GMT

Things are only going to get worse with this guy in charge, hes best mates with mccullum, vettori and the lot of them. So the result is more player power - exactly what we don't need right now.

POSTED BY
amclean
on | July 20, 2012, 13:14 GMT

I'd forgotten about Mike Hesson's international experience with Argentina when I commented a few days ago. Outstanding credentials!! http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/572658.html

POSTED BY
RyanHarrisGreatCricketer
on | July 20, 2012, 12:21 GMT

Talented coach???????????
What does that mean?

POSTED BY
on | July 20, 2012, 11:09 GMT

Mike Who? he won't last long.

POSTED BY
Min2000
on | July 21, 2012, 12:08 GMT

Mike Hesson is likely a caretaker coach while NZC searches for a better option. The selectors need to help the guy out and pick the best players - get Ryder back in the side, get everyone fit. In a NZ cricket context, having players like BJ Watling, Guptill, Ryder, Taylor, Williamson, Franklin, McCullum, Vettori, Bracewell, Wagner, Martin, Nethula, Southee... thats a decent squad to develop and build on.

POSTED BY
on | July 20, 2012, 22:43 GMT

I'm glad Bangladesh have a better and more experienced coach lol New Zealand :)

POSTED BY
shooting
on | July 20, 2012, 22:32 GMT

Hopefully this guy does alright. New Zealand are probably the hardest team to coach because we all know the talent is there, we are just in need of someone to know how to teach them application. First thing I'd be getting throughtheir heads is endurance, even if that means running in the outback of Australia for 8hours straight. At the end of the day, we can only expect average coaches for average teams. Buchanan should be shown the doorway that's for sure.

POSTED BY
on | July 20, 2012, 16:39 GMT

he has not played any cricket.still coachin international side ? how

POSTED BY
Sree_007
on | July 20, 2012, 16:35 GMT

Hi, My Name is Thota Sreenivas from Kenya and i am also involved with Kenyan Cricket and i worked with him. i really enjoyed working with him though its very short time, i can surely tell he is very talented and impressive coach. Hope he will prove that with New Zealand team. All the best to him.

POSTED BY
on | July 20, 2012, 15:35 GMT

While Buchanan is still there, NZ won't improve because he's a crazy guy with his own stupid ideas. NZC should have removed him. They let go of one of the best coaches in John Wright for some Aussie madman. Anyway good luck to this guy Michael Hesson.

POSTED BY
512fm
on | July 20, 2012, 14:12 GMT

Things are only going to get worse with this guy in charge, hes best mates with mccullum, vettori and the lot of them. So the result is more player power - exactly what we don't need right now.

POSTED BY
amclean
on | July 20, 2012, 13:14 GMT

I'd forgotten about Mike Hesson's international experience with Argentina when I commented a few days ago. Outstanding credentials!! http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/572658.html

POSTED BY
RyanHarrisGreatCricketer
on | July 20, 2012, 12:21 GMT

Talented coach???????????
What does that mean?

POSTED BY
on | July 20, 2012, 11:09 GMT

Mike Who? he won't last long.

POSTED BY
Rafelgibt
on | July 20, 2012, 10:59 GMT

This is simply not cool at all......When NZ has the best of Coaches John Right then whats the point of not retaining him.......Buchanan was never up to the mark as he was never been tested as coach because he was the part of the LEGENDARY AUSSIE CRICKET....He failed in KKR now its turn for NZ cricket.....Its quite amazing NZ letting go Wright for Buchanan........Hope BCB is going to take Wright as our Batting consultant and this time we also beat NZ........All the best to NZ from a BAN (Roar TIGER Roar) cricket fan.........

POSTED BY
pitzicada
on | July 20, 2012, 10:42 GMT

Buchanan is a joke. When he was coaching Australia we had some of the best players ever to play the game. He didn't need to do a thing. But he was quick to take credit for the success. And what has he done since then? I hope for NZ this guy isn't in the "Never played test cricket but thinks he is some kind of Guru" mold...

POSTED BY
on | July 20, 2012, 9:39 GMT

Who is this bloke? I know he started coaching since when he was 21 but would he be able to tell Vettori or Rossie what to do?

POSTED BY
Rahul_78
on | July 20, 2012, 9:35 GMT

Such a sad state of affairs when a country lets go of one of its most proud, passionate and talented son for a whimsical outsider in Buchanan. In G.Bush's language Buchanan proved as a weapon of mass destruction for KKR and now its the turn of NZ cricket.

POSTED BY
D-Ascendant
on | July 20, 2012, 9:20 GMT

That's like Yahoo! appointing a new CEO. How will a change of ship captain help a vessel that's doomed to sink, albeit slowly?

POSTED BY
naths
on | July 20, 2012, 9:15 GMT

Kick Buchanan out and bring back Wright.

POSTED BY
FM97
on | July 20, 2012, 8:49 GMT

@Lovetesh : You are absolutely right... If Wright became the coach of India again... it would be great

POSTED BY
Inzamam75
on | July 20, 2012, 8:34 GMT

He has no first class experience, let alone test, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but when I heard he formed a close relationship with Brendon McCullum alarm bells started ringing. He needs to show leadership and a stern hand so he doesn't let the players rule the roost again. So many coaches with the same core group of players tells me that it's not the coaches at fault; the players aren't nearly as good as they like to think they are.

POSTED BY
mikriket
on | July 20, 2012, 8:10 GMT

The NZ Cricket management have made some some dubious decesions over the last years. I wonder whether this isn't another such decision. But lets face it, NZ cricket hasn't got a big future so does it really matter that its all politically motivated

POSTED BY
Lovetesh
on | July 20, 2012, 5:27 GMT

Bring back Wright to be the coach of India asap.

POSTED BY
Mr.Fox
on | July 20, 2012, 4:42 GMT

He looks a bit like Andy Flower. Unfortunately, that seems to be where the similarities between England and New Zealand cricket end.

POSTED BY
Fast_Track_Bully
on | July 20, 2012, 4:20 GMT

If a coach like John Wright can't do anything special to NZ cricket, then nobody can do that!

POSTED BY
LillianThomson
on | July 20, 2012, 3:16 GMT

John Wright is the best - and best qualified - coach that New Zealand has had since Steve Rixon, and it is astonishing that if Buchanan or Wright had to go it was Wright who left. John Buchanan tasted success for Australia with a once in ten generations player group, but his contribution to New Zealand cricket is difficult to identify.

POSTED BY
YogifromNY
on | July 20, 2012, 2:40 GMT

"Mike Hesson taking from John Wright as NZ coach" has the same kind of ring as "Joe Schmoe taking over from Gary Kirsten as SA coach." No disrespect to Mike, he might be a fine coach, but the NZ cricket authorities have proved themselves to be as stupid, stubborn, and egoistic as BCCI, the WICB, and even the ECB when it comes to doing what is right for their cricket and for their players. I am an Indian cricket fan and I cannot believe NZ let John Wright go for the idiotic John Buchanan. Buchanan was famously dissed by the great Shane Warne, who is a fantastic tactician and strategist himself. Buchanan was over-rated as Aussie coach (he coached a side full of world champions), and was a massive flop as coach of Kolkata Knight Riders. Now he plants himself in NZ and they let go of the one superlative coach they have produced.....and appoint Hesson?! I feel for your team, NZ fans. And lament for the state of cricket in general with these idiotic administrators in charge!

POSTED BY
raulraj
on | July 20, 2012, 2:30 GMT

Thats great news for New Zealand cricket but Wright will be missed. I hope they improve and Mr. Hesson does wonders!! New Zealand fan

POSTED BY
qpzmwoxn
on | July 20, 2012, 2:20 GMT

good news for nz cricket. he will get the most out of the players as he has shown with otago in the past and will pick the best team.

No featured comments at the moment.

POSTED BY
qpzmwoxn
on | July 20, 2012, 2:20 GMT

good news for nz cricket. he will get the most out of the players as he has shown with otago in the past and will pick the best team.

POSTED BY
raulraj
on | July 20, 2012, 2:30 GMT

Thats great news for New Zealand cricket but Wright will be missed. I hope they improve and Mr. Hesson does wonders!! New Zealand fan

POSTED BY
YogifromNY
on | July 20, 2012, 2:40 GMT

"Mike Hesson taking from John Wright as NZ coach" has the same kind of ring as "Joe Schmoe taking over from Gary Kirsten as SA coach." No disrespect to Mike, he might be a fine coach, but the NZ cricket authorities have proved themselves to be as stupid, stubborn, and egoistic as BCCI, the WICB, and even the ECB when it comes to doing what is right for their cricket and for their players. I am an Indian cricket fan and I cannot believe NZ let John Wright go for the idiotic John Buchanan. Buchanan was famously dissed by the great Shane Warne, who is a fantastic tactician and strategist himself. Buchanan was over-rated as Aussie coach (he coached a side full of world champions), and was a massive flop as coach of Kolkata Knight Riders. Now he plants himself in NZ and they let go of the one superlative coach they have produced.....and appoint Hesson?! I feel for your team, NZ fans. And lament for the state of cricket in general with these idiotic administrators in charge!

POSTED BY
LillianThomson
on | July 20, 2012, 3:16 GMT

John Wright is the best - and best qualified - coach that New Zealand has had since Steve Rixon, and it is astonishing that if Buchanan or Wright had to go it was Wright who left. John Buchanan tasted success for Australia with a once in ten generations player group, but his contribution to New Zealand cricket is difficult to identify.

POSTED BY
Fast_Track_Bully
on | July 20, 2012, 4:20 GMT

If a coach like John Wright can't do anything special to NZ cricket, then nobody can do that!

POSTED BY
Mr.Fox
on | July 20, 2012, 4:42 GMT

He looks a bit like Andy Flower. Unfortunately, that seems to be where the similarities between England and New Zealand cricket end.

POSTED BY
Lovetesh
on | July 20, 2012, 5:27 GMT

Bring back Wright to be the coach of India asap.

POSTED BY
mikriket
on | July 20, 2012, 8:10 GMT

The NZ Cricket management have made some some dubious decesions over the last years. I wonder whether this isn't another such decision. But lets face it, NZ cricket hasn't got a big future so does it really matter that its all politically motivated

POSTED BY
Inzamam75
on | July 20, 2012, 8:34 GMT

He has no first class experience, let alone test, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but when I heard he formed a close relationship with Brendon McCullum alarm bells started ringing. He needs to show leadership and a stern hand so he doesn't let the players rule the roost again. So many coaches with the same core group of players tells me that it's not the coaches at fault; the players aren't nearly as good as they like to think they are.

POSTED BY
FM97
on | July 20, 2012, 8:49 GMT

@Lovetesh : You are absolutely right... If Wright became the coach of India again... it would be great